STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM

www.ieep.ca

Hokkaido, Japan/Alberta

Challenge yourself to an intensive living experience, to active learning beyond the classroom walls!

WHY SHOULD YOU DO AN EXCHANGE WITH HOKKAIDO, JAPAN?By taking part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you will get a chance to

• improve your Japanese language skills in an immersion environment,

• become immersed in the culture and lifestyle of Japan by participating in daily school and family life,

• discover more about yourself as you face new challenges, and

• develop new skills in living and working closely with people from a different culture.

HOW DOES IT WORK?This unique program is facilitated by Alberta Education’s International Education Exchange Programs (IEEP), which is administered by the Alberta Teachers’ Association. Students from Alberta are paired with schools in the Japanese provinces of Hokkaido.The exchange period will take place over one school year; time will be divided equally between Alberta and Japan. An important feature of this exchange is that the paired students attend school together in the same location at the same time. Alberta students are overseas for 10 weeks during the first semester, departing for Japan in August and returning home in early October.The students from Japan will then attend a school in Alberta with their host partner for 10 weeks in the first semester (November–January).

WHERE DO STUDENTS LIVE WHILE ON EXCHANGE?Visiting Japanese students will live in their Alberta host families’ homes and attend school with their Alberta exchange partners. Visiting Alberta students will be hosted by their Japanese exchange partners and attend the Japanese school with their partners.

WHAT IS THE COST?Families are responsible for the costs associated with hosting the exchange partner. Families are also expected to cover their son’s or daughter’s travel expenses and provide enough spending money for the time away. As this is a reciprocal exchange, school tuition fees are waived on both sides.Please note that all Alberta students’ return flights must be booked through the travel agency identified by the Alberta Teachers’ Association.

I have had to leap completely out of my comfort zone to become more

confident and outgoing, I had to say speeches in

front of the school, mayor, classes and

even strangers. From those

experiences I have become way more confident. Overall this trip has helped

to grow up and become stronger – which is amazing!

“

”

IEEP-S-11a 2016-09

STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Hokkaido, Japan/Alberta

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?This exchange program is open to all high school students studying Japanese. Students normally apply during their Grade 10 year to participate in the exchange during their Grade 11 year. They should have completed or complete Japanese 20 during the program year. Students are recommended by their Japanese language teachers based on criteria such as language proficiency, academic standing, personal qualities (such as maturity, openness to other cultures, ability to adapt and determination to complete the program) and family motivation.

HOW DO I APPLY?Talk to your Japanese language teacher or visit our website. Interested students must ensure that the completed application is mailed to the International Education Exchange Program (IEEP) no later than March 15. Application instructions and forms (both student and school portions) are available at www.ieep.ca. The application process is as follows:

Application Process1. Application—The application consists of two parts. Part I is filled out and submitted to the Japanese language teacher (liaison teacher), who completes Part II of the application.

2. Interviews and Recommendations—Part II of the application is completed by the liaison teacher, who will act as the liaison for the entire exchange. Teacher liaisons conduct the initial screening of applicants by interviewing the applicants and their families. They also submit a letter of recommendation for each student. The liaison teacher is responsible for submitting the complete application to the IEEP office by the deadline.

3. Selection and Matching—Once an applicant’s complete application has been received by IEEP, the student exchange coordinator will work together with our partners in Hokkaido to propose matches. Matches are based upon similar interests and lifestyles. The matches will be proposed in late May.

4. Approval in Alberta—If a proposed match is found, the proposal is sent to the applicant’s family and school for approval. The applicant and his or her family may refuse the match if they do not consider it to be appropriate.

5. Approval Abroad—The exchange partner’s family is given the same opportunity of refusal as the Alberta family. Therefore, an exchange is not considered to be final until all parties have agreed to the match.

6. Confirmation of Participation—Applicants will be notified by e-mail, and subsequently by mail, when their exchange has been finalized. Shortly thereafter, students will receive a confirmation package outlining the next steps in preparing for the exchange.

Contact Information

Hokkaido/Alberta ProgramInternational Education Exchange ProgramsThe Alberta Teachers’ Association11010 142 Street NW, Edmonton AB T5N 2R1

Phone: 780-392-6900E-mail: admin@ieep.caWebsite: www.ieep.ca

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